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Updated: Jul 27, 2025

Lung CT Segmentation to Identify Consolidations and Ground Glass Areas for Quantitative Assesment of SARS-CoV Pneumonia
Published on: December 19, 2020
Correlation of bone density measured on CT chest with the severity of COVID-19 infection: A retrospective study
Noha Bakhsh1, Mai Banjar2, Mukhtiar Baig3
1Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, Department of Medicine, Division of Radiology, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Insights
Bone mineral density (BMD) did not predict survival in COVID-19 patients. The pneumonia severity score (PSS) from chest CT scans was the significant factor for predicting patient outcomes in this study.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Pulmonology
- Bone Health
Background:
- COVID-19 poses significant health risks, with severity varying widely among patients.
- Understanding prognostic factors is crucial for managing severe cases and improving patient outcomes.
- Bone mineral density (BMD) has been explored as a potential factor influencing disease severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and COVID-19 severity.
- To determine if BMD can serve as a prognostic indicator for COVID-19 outcomes.
- To compare the predictive value of BMD with the pneumonia severity score (PSS) in COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of adult COVID-19 patients who underwent chest CT scans between January 2020 and April 2022.
- Pulmonary severity scores (PSS) and vertebral BMD were measured from CT scans.
- Electronic health records were analyzed for patient demographics, comorbidities, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- The study included 136 patients with an average age of 56.4 years; 73.5% were male.
- Diabetes and hypertension were common comorbidities. ICU admission was required for 64%, and mortality was 30%.
- Logistic regression showed elevated PSS predicted reduced survival, while age, gender, and BMD did not.
Conclusions:
- Bone mineral density (BMD) was found to have no prognostic value for COVID-19 survival.
- The pneumonia severity score (PSS) derived from chest CT scans is a significant predictor of COVID-19 patient outcomes.
- Clinical management should focus on factors like PSS rather than BMD for predicting COVID-19 prognosis.
Purpose:
This retrospective study investigated the correlation between bone mineral density (BMD) and COVID-19 severity among COVID-19 patients who underwent chest computed tomography (CT) scans.
Methods:
This study was carried out at the King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, one of the largest COVID-19 centers in the western province. All adult COVID-19 patients who had a chest CT between January 2020 and April 2022 were included in the study. The pulmonary severity scores (PSS) and vertebral BMD measurements were obtained from the patient's CT chest. Data from the patients' electronic records were collected.
Results:
The average patient age was 56.4 years, and most (73.5%) patients were men. Diabetes (n = 66, 48.5%), hypertension (n = 56, 41.2%), and coronary artery disease (n = 17, 12.5%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Approximately two-thirds of hospitalized patients required ICU admission (64%), and one-third died (30%). The average length of stay in the hospital was 28.4 days. The mean CT pneumonia severity score (PSS) was 10.6 at the time of admission. Patients with lower vertebral BMD (< = 100) numbered 12 (8.8%), while those with higher vertebral BMD (>100) numbered 124 (91.2%). Only 46 out of the total survived patients (n = 95) were admitted to the ICU versus all deceased (P<0.01). The logistic regression analysis revealed that an elevated PSS upon admission resulted in a reduced chance of survival. Age, gender, and BMD did not predict survival chances.
Conclusion:
The BMD had no prognostic advantage, and the PSS was the significant factor that could have predicted the outcome.
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